Color Me “Bava”

Exploring an Italian horror maestro’s expressive palette.

By José Sarmiento Hinojosa | July 31, 2018

Mario Bava, one of the most formidable exponents of the suspense sub-genre known as giallo, mastered both camera movements and Technicolor to give his films a unique vitality and presence that is sensuous, creepy and macabre. Bava’s images are unforgettable: vampires, zombies, creatures, and killers; a gallery of terrifying monsters and beautiful women in distress—all accented by his unique use of color and light. Many filmmakers, among them Nicolas Winding Refn and Yann Gonzalez, owe this Italian auteur a great debt! In this video, we are able to revisit and enjoy the sensuality of his terror, today.